SPECIAL ELECTION: PRO-JOB DEMOCRAT VICTORIOUS

Steve Glazer, mayor of Orinda and former advisor to Governor Jerry Brown, handily won the special election race in an Oakland Senate district, defeating siting-Assemblymember Susan Bonilla of Concord with 55% of the vote. The campaign pitting two Democratic candidates has been one of the most closely watched and hotly contested state Senate races in California history.

Glazer’s victory is a major win for the California business community and proponents of education reform who engaged in an independent effort that promoted Glazer’s stances on transit strikes, taxes and teacher dismissal laws.

With all precincts reporting, the Secretary of State website showed Glazer led Bonilla 54.6% to 45.4%—a margin of 10,255 votes out of the roughly 111,000 cast.